Methanol-hydrogen hybrid electric vehicles are also being developed for freezing temperatures.

The compact design of the 14Xe has allowed for a shorter wheelbase, something which Thomas Built Buses says was “highly requested” by customers.

Built for caged goods, the fleet comprises 31 rigid bodies mounted on Scania P280 high-roof sleeper cabs and two on Mercedes Atego models.

The near-series production prototype was presented at eMobility Days in Berlin earlier this month. The orderbook is now open with series production set for 2026.

The South Korean company has expanded its range of battery-powered city buses.

New model comes with new 2.2L diesel engine and 8-speed automatic transmission

Kia is currently building a new plant in South Korea’s Gyeonggi province dedicated to the production of battery-powered PBVs of various sizes and specifications.

The product offers a maximum output of 12 kW (240V AC at 50A) per port and supports both single and dual-port configurations.

The company confirmed that the first batch of trucks have been delivered to TruKKer, a digital-based logistics company operating in the Middle East.

Series production is set for Q1 2025 at its Vysoke Myto plant in the Czech Republic. Available in two main versions (a 12 and a 13-metre variant),  these buses are designed for both urban and intercity missions.

The 12-metre low-entry Ikarus 120e has an 86-passenger capacity in a 3-door configuration. The 314 kWh LFP battery pack allows for a range of up to 350km (217 miles) on a single charge.

The Tata Daewoo company was founded in 1995 as Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company Ltd and was acquired by India’s Tata Motors Ltd in 2004.